Friends of Reading Public Library Concert Series: Greta Asgeirsson

Harpist and Reading's own Gréta Ásgeirsson will be performing at the Reading Public Library on Sunday, March 4th, 3 p.m. She is currently a junior at Boston University studying with former Boston Symphony Orchestra principal harpist, Ann Hobson-Pilot, as well as current Boston Symphony Orchestra harpist, Jessica Zhou. 

Gréta is principal harpist of the Thayer Symphony Orchestra and has played with numerous orchestras including the Portland Symphony Orchestra, the National Lyric Opera, the Boston Civic Orchestra and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.  In 2010 she made her Carnegie Hall debut with John Rutter and the New England Symphonic Ensemble, and in January 2011 Gréta toured Florida with Barry Manilow.  She is the recipient of many awards and scholarships including Ernie Boch Jr.’s Music Drives Us scholarship and the Boston Musicians Union scholarship.  Gréta has been featured as a soloist with the Thayer Symphony Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Reading Symphony Orchestra and the Salem Philharmonic.  And in 2009, she won the Boston Youth Symphony concerto competition performing Maurice Ravel’s Introduction et Allegro at Harvard University’s Sanders Theater.  She has been hailed by reviewers as “crisp, confident and soulful,” as well as being “virtually flawless.” 

A 2009 graduate of Reading Memorial High School, Gréta was the recipient of the Principal’s Award and a member of the National Honor Society.  In addition, Gréta was a member of the RMHS Concert Band, Stage Band, Jazz Ensemble, and the Marching Band, serving as drum major for two years.  Throughout high school, she represented RMHS at the North East District Festival Orchestra, the Massachusetts All State Festival Orchestra and the All Eastern (US) Festival Orchestra. 

Through her musical studies, Gréta has been able to travel the world performing in Leipzig’s Gewandhaus, Prague’s Smetana Hall, Litomysl’s Smetana Opera Festival, and Reykavík’s Háteigskirkja.  Her studies have also taken her to New Zealand where she studied extensively with New Zealand Symphony Orchestra harpist, Carolyn Mills. 

In addition to her principal teachers, Gréta has studied with the principal harpists, Sarah Bullen of the Chicago Symphony, Gretchen Van Hoesen of the Pittsburgh Symphony, and Susann McDonald of Indiana University. 

Gréta would like to thank the Reading Public Library for giving her the opportunity to play at their wonderful facility in her hometown!